Aces for Autism is expanding to serve more families across the east

Aces for Autism expanding to serve more families across the east
Published: Nov. 16, 2023 at 5:22 AM EST|Updated: Nov. 16, 2023 at 1:27 PM EST
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WINTERVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Aces for Autism, an organization serving children and families impacted by autism across the East is opening a new location.

The organization’s current office is in Greenville, however, construction is already in motion for the new building in Winterville.

Aces for Autism CEO, Kyle Robinson says “Bobbie and I, our oldest kid has autism, Samuel who is 12 and I still remember when she quit her teaching job here in Winterville and each week, they’d go to Winston Salem while at the time I was working at ECU but... that vision, God laid on our hearts and we said yes to it. To really see that vision turn into a reality means a lot.”

The Robinsons say it’s a vision of hope and refuge that is coming to life.

“God took something that we were unsure about, that we didn’t know the future for and He turned our pain into something that could help so many other families for years to come,” said Aces for Autism Co-Founder, Bobbie Robinson, told WITN.

From serving people across the East who are impacted by autism since 2014, Kyle says the new location is better for serving Pitt County and areas across the east. “We currently serve 60 children and families impacted by autism on a weekly basis and our goal over the next 5 years is to get to 200 families on a weekly basis and that could look very different as every individual with autism is very different. This space is just going to really allow us to take the next step.”

Bobbie also says, the new building in Winterville will be a space to employ and empower those in Ace’s care to be successful through real-life experiences.

“When we were thinking about the different rooms: the cafeteria, the lab street with the dentist’s office, the grocery store, the pediatrician’s office, the hair salon. We really wanted those things that those families struggle with that they know their child would really have a hard time with... even the playground and being able to transition off of it to get in the car to go home. Those are things that a lot of families shy away from in the community,” Bobbie told WITN.

Along with the intention to better prepare those in their care, the Robinsons are dedicated to ensuring each family knows they’re not alone.

“Just being able to pour into them and let them know they’re not alone. Yes, this journey is hard and yes, you’re going to have ups and downs but we’re here with you, we’re here to walk alongside you,” says Bobbie.

Kyle also told WITN, “A lot of other families have had a similar vision, and for us to be able to walk that out with them, for them to be able to come here now and have a place to come... it’s not only a place of hope but a place of refuge.”

In addition to Bobbie and Kyle Robinson’s non-profit Aces for Autism, the couple also founded Samuel C. Robinson Child Development Center in 2022. The center is an all-inclusive child development center for children ages 2-6 years old and the mission is to create a nurturing and educational environment where every child is valued as a unique creation of God.

The Samuel C. Robinson Child Development Center prepares kids for kindergarten through creative arts, science, math, language, imaginative play, health, and motor skills development, all while emphasizing self-expression, sharing, and social interaction.

The Robinsons say, the different programs and resources offered for students are in efforts to provide each and every child with the best education and preparation possible and are currently enrolling for January 2024.

For more information, visit the Samuel C. Robinson Child Development Center website.

Shine On Academy will be the second phase and is a year-round special education program that offers highly individualized and differentiated instructional programming for all students.

The academy will use evidence-based instructional curricula and collect data-based decisions about student programming and progress, as well as offer an instructional program that follows the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Extended Program of Study, and Occupational Course of Study by grade level and modify and adapt it to meet the needs of individual students.

The academy is actively enrolling students. For more information, you can visit the Shine On Academy website.

Aces for Autism is set to open at the beginning of the year however, a ribbon-cutting ceremony or opening day has not been officially set.

For more information on all of what Aces for Autism has to offer, you can visit their website.